scabrous

[ skab-ruhs ]
See synonyms for scabrous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. having a rough surface because of minute points or projections.

  2. indecent or scandalous; risqué; obscene: scabrous books.

  1. full of difficulties.

Origin of scabrous

1
1575–85; <Latin scab(e)r rough + -ous

Other words for scabrous

Other words from scabrous

  • scab·rous·ly, adverb
  • scab·rous·ness, noun
  • un·scab·rous, adjective
  • un·scab·rous·ly, adverb
  • un·scab·rous·ness, noun

Words Nearby scabrous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scabrous in a sentence

  • Blades long, dark green, succulent and scabrous: ridges numerous and flat above, but distinct (Fig. 9).

    Grasses | H. Marshall Ward

British Dictionary definitions for scabrous

scabrous

/ (ˈskeɪbrəs) /


adjective
  1. roughened because of small projections; scaly

  2. indelicate, indecent, or salacious: scabrous humour

  1. difficult to deal with; knotty

Origin of scabrous

1
C17: from Latin scaber rough; related to scabies

Derived forms of scabrous

  • scabrously, adverb
  • scabrousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012